The next intermediate statement will be issued at 6:00 p.m. ADT.
Followed by the full information statement issued at 09:00 p.m. ADT.
Heavy rain bands ahead of Hurricane Dorian already affecting the southern maritimes. Dorian will continue to accelerate northeastward toward Nova Scotia, making landfall this evening near Halifax. Severe winds and heavy rain are in store for parts of Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec.
1. Summary of basic information at 03:00 p.m. ADT.
Location: Near 42.8 North 65.6 West.
About: 265 kilometres southwest of Halifax.
Maximum sustained winds: 148 kilometres per hour.
Present movement: northeast at 47 kilometres per hour.
Minimum central pressure: 953 millibars.
2. Public weather impacts and warnings summary.
Hurricane warnings are in effect for the south shore, central and eastern Nova Scotia and western Newfoundland. Hurricane Watches are in effect for eastern Prince Edward Island, and the Magdalen Islands.
Tropical storm warnings are in effect for southeastern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, western and northern Nova Scotia, parts of northern and southwestern Newfoundland, the Magdalen Islands and parts of Quebec's Lower North Shore.
Hurricane Dorian is rapidly approaching Nova Scotia this afternoon, and is expected to make landfall near Halifax early this evening, then continue tracking east of Prince Edward Island around midnight, and then over the eastern Gulf of St. Lawrence waters or western Newfoundland by Sunday morning.
Severe winds and torrential rain will impact southeastern New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Western Newfoundland, the Magdalen Islands and the Quebec's Lower North Shore. Large waves are expected for the Atlantic coasts of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and for eastern portions of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Finally, storm surge, combined with large waves and pounding surf, may give flooding for parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, the Magdalen Islands, and parts of the Quebec's Lower North Shore.
a. Wind.
Wind gusts up to 120 km/h have already been reported along parts of the Nova Scotia coast this afternoon. Much of Nova Scotia will continue to experience high wind gusts of 90 to 110 km/h or higher this afternoon, and towards evening for Prince Edward Island, the Magdalen Islands, and southwestern Newfoundland. Near and to the south of the forecast track, winds will reach hurricane force of 120 km/h or more. Behind the storm, winds will reach hurricane force northwesterlies, with wind gusts potentially reaching 150 km/h in some areas. Wind impacts will likely be enhanced by foliage on the trees, causing broken branches and tree falls, resulting in power outages, blocking of roads, and other type of damages.
b. Rainfall.
Rainfall warnings are in effect for Nova Scotia, western Prince Edward Island, most of New Brunswick stretching from the southwest towards the Gaspesie, and parts of the Lower North Shore Quebec.
Very heavy rain has already spread into the region. Rainfall rates in excess of 25 mm per hour have already been observed at several locations, with some stations in southwestern Nova Scotia already reporting over 75 mm by early this afternoon.
Widespread rainfall amounts of 50 to 100 mm are expected over Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the Magdalen Islands. Maximum amounts are likely over western Nova Scotia where 100 to 200 mm are expected. These amounts and rainfall rates could easily give rise to road washouts and localized flash flooding.
c. Surge/Waves.
Storm surge warnings are in effect for most of the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, the north shore of Prince Edward Island, western Cape Breton, the Magdalen Islands, Quebec's Lower Quebec North Shore, and Anticosti Island.
For the south coast of Nova Scotia high waves and storm surge may cause flooding for some low lying coastal areas this afternoon.
For the Gulf of Saint Lawrence localized flooding due to storm surge and high waves are likely during high tide tonight.
There will also be rough and pounding surf, especially for parts of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Waves of 7 to 10 metres will reach the Southwestern Shore of Nova Scotia during the day and spread to the Eastern Shore tonight. These waves will likely reach southern Newfoundland by Sunday morning with waves nearing 12 metres. Waves of 4 to 7 metres will impact north facing coasts of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Note that waves will break higher along some of the coastlines, and dangerous rip currents are likely. Please exercise extreme caution.
3. Marine weather impacts and warnings summary.
An offshore buoy near Georges bank reported a wind gust over 80 knots (150 km/h) earlier this afternoon where Dorian passed just to its north. Several Atlantic coastal stations already near reporting gusts near 65 knots (120 km/h) this afternoon.
Hurricane force wind warnings are in effect for most Atlantic waters, storm warnings are in effect for other waters in the Maritimes. For Newfoundland, hurricane force wind warnings are in effect for eastern Gulf of St. Lawrence waters, storm force warnings for the southwest and northeast coasts, and the strait of Belle Isle. Gale warnings are in effect for the remaining waters.
As Dorian continues to move into our waters, it will spread hurricane force southeasterlies near and south of its track, with storm to hurricane force northwesterlies developing behind it. Waves of 10 to 15 metres are expected south of the storm track, beginning late today over southwestern waters and approaching the south coast of Newfoundland Sunday morning. As the low continues east Sunday into Monday, waves of 4 to 7 metres will develop over eastern waters, and for the southwestern Grand Banks will build to 5 to 10 metres.
